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Friday, January 21, 2011

Welcome to the Moda Bake Shop Progressive Dinner

I'm back, I'm back! Thanks so much for all your well wishes during my injury, surgery, and recovery. The surgery went well, though I will admit that the recovery has been a little rougher than expected. But enough about that. Even though I'm typing this post by "hunting & pecking" with my left hand (7th grade typing class term!), I wouldn't miss this post, because I finally get to share some exciting news ...

I'M BEING PUBLISHED IN MY VERY FIRST BOOK!! YEAH!!

Fresh Fabric Finds is an upcoming title from Stash Books, and it extends the bake shop concept into book form. For those of you unfamiliar with the Moda Bake Shop, it's a wonderful online resource for free patterns & project ideas using Moda's pre-cut offerings, including fat quarter bundles, fat eigth bundles, layer cakes, jelly rolls, honey buns, and charm squares. I've been fortunate enough to have a few projects featured on the site (see them here), and I was both thrilled and honored to be included in the book along with 15 other talented "chefs".

To celebrate the launch of the book (scheduled to be released this May), we're hosting a Progressive Dinner Party and giveaway. First, the giveaway part. One lucky reader will win a copy of Fresh Fabric Finds and a fat eighth bundle (currently my favorite pre-cuts!) of an upcoming fabric line TBD. To enter simply leave a comment here on my blog, and I'll randomly draw a winner on Friday, January 28.

I can't say too much about my specific project for the book (yet), but I can give a hint

and tell you that it's one of the projects featured above.

Can you guess which one?

Want to win even more? To win the grand prize of over $200 of Moda pre-cuts, visit every blog hosting the Progressive Dinner Party, and comment on every post. Again, a lucky reader wil be selected from all who enter. Start here at the Moda Bake Shop, and be sure to visit all of the other chefs. Here's the schedule:

And now for the dinner part of the post. We were each asked to provide a favorite recipe. Now this may not surprise you, but I'm not much of a cook (even though a psychic once told me that I was a great Italian chef from Tuscany in a previous life!), but I'm going to share one of my wife's FAVORITE recipes. It might sound a bit odd and it requires a bit more work than a typical salad, but I promise that it's always a show-stopper and she's asked to bring it again & again!

Cook beans in salted water until crisp-tender (about 4 minutes). It depends upon the size as to how long they take. Put in ice-bath, drain, pat dry, and cut into 2-inch pieces. Add to the barley. Mix in corn kernels. Coarsely chop arugula. Add to barley mixture. Add beans and cheese.

Whisk olive oil, vinegar, garlic, thyme and Dijon. Pour the dressing over the mixture. Be careful not to put too much dressing on. Season with salt and pepper.

is yours the quilt on the fence post?i hope you heal well, i hope to get my hands on a copy of this book, my husband already knows i want it...good luck to everyone, and good luck to you, healing from a broken bone, with little ones, well wishes to you from me here in maine.

Good to see that you are on the mend, and congrats on your first book! And thank you for sharing this recipe - sounds wonderful!! I am torn between the quilt on the fence and the bag in the top right corner... both look like prime candidates for the fat eight bundles... but like one of the other ladies mentioned, not sure I can see you making bags lol. Happy quilting!

I'm loving the blog hoppin. I'm finding so many new blogs to read and learn from, Thank You!! I'm glad your feeling better. I'm new to your blog I think I found you a week ago? My guess is your quilt is the brown and lime bars with the cake. ;>

So happy to see you included in the book. Your photo kind of reminds me of a year book and you guys are the incoming freshman class!! You guys are a bunch of talented people. We are so lucky that you are all willing to share with us! Hope you heal up quickly!!

Congrats on being featured!!! Your recipe sounds wonderful! I'm glad your surgery went well! I'm guessing your project is the quilt with the cake on top? Thanks for the chance to win such an incredible giveaway!

The salad recipe sounds terrific- some of my favorite things put together! I've enjoyed a couple of your MBS projects and didn't realize who they were coming from, so this is a great idea! Keep up the good work...

Now, see, that's just validating--to see a guy who quilts and is proud of it--no different from a gal who's a doctor. And how many of the top fashion designers are men, anyway?? Congrats on being included in the book! I homeschool my son, and he loves to sew, btw. I'm subscribing to your blog RIGHT NOW, so he can keep up with you between reading up on the Texas Rangers ball team. Speedy recovery, too!

Very nice recipe! We love salad that incorporate grains, and eat them all the time! Thank you & your wife for sharing this one!Congratulations on the book! Eager to see more of it, and to know which project is yours.

I'm loving this! I had a friend send me your way a while ago and now I just love seeing all you do! Congrats on being published! I would love to win this give away and when I get my computer time again tonight, I'm going to the other sites.

elbow surgery is so rough...I dislocated and broke my left elbow back in 8th grade, right at the time I was taking typing class! So I get the hunting/pecking thing. Hope getting published in this great book feels better than your elbow.

Congrats of being published! I think your project is the quilt on the railing...second picture from the left on the top. Thank you for the recipe! We love cold vegetarian salads like that so we'll be trying it soon!

Congrats on the book! I hope you are feeling better soon from your surgery. I think your project is the US Air mail pillow! or maybe the rail fence one on the fence.Christinehttp://thefabricjunkie.blogspot.com/

Hi John, I'm Cyndi and this is my first time visiting your blog...I'm pleased to meet you! A big Congratulations on being published in "Fresh Fabric Finds" - that's waaaay cool! I'm a relatively new quilter, and I have to say that I have been truly inspired by all the wonderful free patterns and projects at the Moda Bake Shop! Thanks for your part in this awesome give away, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the dinner! :o)

Oh, and I wish you a speedy recovery from your injury - been there, too. Elbows are not fun to break!

Ow on the elbow! Start sketching now for the quilt you can build around the plate and screws when/if they get taken back out down the road.Nice blog and great recipe. That's a keeper for this vegetarian feta lover. I just bought some at Trader Jo's last night. Hmmmm....

So sorry about your surgery. I am glad you are on the mend. This progressive dinner is so fun. I love checking out all the blogs. Of course, I check yours out regularly anyway.If I had to guess, I would say yours is the brown and green quilt on the fence. Thanks for the recipe. It looks delicious. I'm going to try it this weekend!

Aww, I'm sorry to hear about your arm, but I'm glad you are doing better! :) praying your recovery continues to go well and you have a full healing very soon!

But, this is so exciting! ;) What a great idea and how fun?! :D I love your patterns and I think that is so cool that you are a guy who loves quilting...good for you! :D And congrats on being part of the book that must be so exciting for you! :D